Lives Changed & Only $1,400 Compensation

WFMY News 2 -- We've told you about Carl Wheeler, the good samaritan who stopped to help a stranger stranded on the side of the road. 17-year old Darren Jones died and Wheeler was permanently injured, after a drunk driver hit them.

Their families received almost no money in compensation. The Wheeler family received $1,400. That shocked many of us here at News 2.

We spoke with an attorney who said this happens more often than we realize. He says that's because people don't have insurance to cover the injuries.

Kevin Bugg, with State Farm Insurance, says some of us might want to consider "medical payments coverage." That's on top of auto insurance coverage. It costs about $32 a year, and it will pay up to $25,000.

State law requires every driver to have uninsured coverage. You pay $38 a year for it, and it covers you up to $30,000. That's the minimum, but you can increase that coverage. The maximum amount will cover you if an un-insured or underinsured driver hits you. That costs $136 a year, with maximum coverage of $100,000 per person, up to $300,000 per crash.

Bugg also recommends that everyone get disability insurance, along with your health insurance coverage. Bugg said that long-term care coverage would help in a situation like Wheelers.